I have replied only to the first part of your letter of the 12th inst.; the second also contains important matter. It would, doubtless, be desirable to restore to their country the American seamen, who have been retained by the force of habit or by compulsion in the English service, and to gain the double advantage of increasing the strength of the Americans, while we destroy that of the enemy. But the means appear to me as difficult as to yourselves, and in the present state of things, we cannot flatter ourselves that we shall succeed in the attempt.
You request, at the least, that the citizens of the United States, taken since the commencement of hostilities in the English service, should be surrendered to you. This general demand requires a serious attention, and I shall lay it before his Majesty. With respect to the four prisoners, whose liberation you more particularly request, it is with great pleasure, that I transmit orders to Denant, to place them at your disposal.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DE SARTINE.
M. DUMAS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Translation.
Hague, October 27th, 1778.
Gentlemen,
I received your favor of the 16th last Saturday. It is precisely what I should have desired. The Grand Pentionary is highly pleased with it. I went the same day to read it to our friend, and gave him a copy attested by my signature. It gave him much pleasure, and he has repeatedly assured me that it would be extremely agreeable to the Burgomasters of the city, whom he was eager to inform how you would answer to the measure he had engaged them to adopt, in procuring from them authority to make the declaration[53] and write me the letter, of which you have copies, and the duplicates of which are lodged in the city-house. He urged me to assure you, that the mention of England was not introduced with the design of making any thing depend on the pleasure of that power, but merely to show the situation of the city, which, for the present, can only wish that the English may be prevented from making any further opposition to our mutual connexion. In fine, he is now prepared to act on his return, at a convenient opportunity.
The memorial of the merchants has been presented to their High Mightinesses. Herewith I transmit that presented to the Prince last Saturday. Our friend remitted it to me the same day, and I have thought it deserving of a translation for your inspection. He inquired anxiously for good news from America, and I replied, that the situation of America was by no means critical, and that I was less anxious about it than about this republic.